Village board member pleads to OVI, gun charges

February 22, 2014

LISBON - A Wellsville Village Schools and County Career Center board member pleaded no contest to OVI and gun-related charges on Thursday in Columbiana County Municipal Court.

Michael F. Cook Jr., 48, Roslyn Avenue, Wellsville, was fined $675, had his license suspended for 180 days and is required to attend a three-day counseling program for OVI first offense and a lane violation.

A charge of improper transportation of a weapon was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle. A sentencing hearing on the gun charge was set for April 24 before Judge Mark Frost.

According to court documents, Cook was stopped shortly after 2 a.m., Jan. 1 by Wellsville Patrolman Robert Kern. At the time Cook, who has a concealed carry permit, reportedly denied having a weapon in the vehicle. However, police reportedly found a Kel-Tec .380 pistol under the driver's seat and six rounds in the seated magazine.